Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:33

What does Matthew 27:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:33 means

They arrive at Golgotha, ‘the place of a skull.’ The name evokes death and execution. Golgotha is the site designated for crucifixion, a bleak and public place of shame. The narrative locates the crucifixion geographically and symbolically: at a place associated with death, the Son of Life will die. The setting emphasizes the public and humiliating nature of Roman execution while preparing for the theological significance of the event that will occur there.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when they came to the place named Golgotha, that is to say, Dead Man's Head,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having come to a place called Golgotha, that is called Place of a Skull,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having come to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a skull,

Context

This verse follows Simon’s forced carrying of the cross (v. 32) and marks their arrival at the execution site. It shifts from the journey to the final place of suffering. Naming Golgotha roots the passion in a specific locale and frames the unfolding events of crucifixion in the verses that follow (vv. 34–44).

v.32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

v.33This passage

v.34they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 15:22

    And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

  • Mark 15:34

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • John 19:23

    The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

  • Luke 23:44

    And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

  • John 19:17

    They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha:

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